2010

Centre for Appropriate Technology (2010)

National Indigenous infrastructure guide.

Alice Springs: Centre for Appropriate Technology

This publication provides a framework to facilitate an understanding of the issues which arise in the provision of infrastructure for remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The main focus of the guide is the installation and maintenance of infrastructure which is appropriate and sustainable for remote Indigenous communities. The importance of community in this process is highlighted in the guide.

The National Indigenous infrastructure guide complements the existing National Indigenous Housing Guide and the Environmental Health Handbooks. The guide provides information on:

existing research

codes and standards

resources

community infrastructure.

The guide was produced by the Centre for Appropriate Technology (CAT) with funding from the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA).

Environmental Health Needs Coordinating Committee (2010)

Environmental health needs of Aboriginal communities in Western Australia: the 2008 survey and its findings.

Perth: Western Australian Department of Health, Public Health Division

The Western Australian Environmental health needs survey was conducted over 2007 and 2008 and is the third survey in a series which surveyed housing, services, utilities, community infrastructure and the immediate living environment in discrete Aboriginal communities in WA. Data collected related to over 15,000 residents from 232 communities. This publication reports the outcomes of this survey and provides a comparison with the outcomes of the 1997 and 2004 surveys.

The survey was conducted by environmental health practitioners who work with and in discrete Aboriginal communities. The practitioners visited the communities to survey existing infrastructure. Information was also collected about levels of community satisfaction and any concerns with the provision of essential, municipal and allied services which influenced and affected environmental health in the communities.

The core environmental health and infrastructure issues covered in the report were:

water

electricity

housing

solid waste disposal

sanitation

dust

dog health programs

emergency management

The report provides an evidence base which highlights the continued environmental health issues faced by many of the communities who participated in the survey. It is the foundation for the future direction of service plans and delivery in discrete communities.

2007

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2007)

Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics

This report presents the results from the third Community Housing and Infrastructure Needs Survey (CHINS), held in 2006. The publication includes information relating to housing, such as current housing stock, dwelling management practices and some information about Indigenous organisations that provide housing to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The report also provides information about housing related infrastructure such as water, electricity, sewerage, drainage, and rubbish collection and disposal, as well as other facilities such as transport, communication, education, sport and health services, available in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Department of Families Housing Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (2007)

National Indigenous housing guide: improving the living environment for safety, health and sustainability: third edition.

Canberra: Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

The National Indigenous Housing Guide is a practical resource to support the planning and development of Indigenous housing in terms of design, construction and maintenance for remote communities.

The resource is divided into four parts including:

safety

health and housing

healthy communities, and

managing houses for safety and health.

It is useful for builders, trades people, housing workers, council members, architects, project managers, or government officials working in Indigenous affairs and housing.

The guide was developed by the Australian Government in partnership with communities, housing design consultants, builders, architects and health workers. It is supported by research and meets Australian building standards.

Report of the Uwankara Palyanyku Kanyintjaku: an environmental and public health review within the Anangu Pitjantjatjara lands.

In 1987, the Nganampa Health Council published an environmental health report called the 'UPK Report'. The report reached the conclusion that nine healthy living practices are necessary for improved health in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands. Between 1987 and 1990 UPK became regarded nationally as a yardstick for environmental intervention in Indigenous communities.